Nearly 24 hours after her controversial rendition of the national anthem, Fergie issued a statement Monday addressing criticism of her performance at Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game. “I’ve always been honored and proud to perform the national anthem and last night I wanted to try something special for the NBA,” the Black Eyed Peas singer said […]

Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl is the apex of Super Bowl counter-programming. The content of the two-hour show is in no way objectionable and in every way lovable. Referee Dan Schachner provides a slice of humanity and order to the chaos. It frequently and repeatedly highlights the cause of animal adoption. But mostly: PUPPIES! The clumsy […]

He did not say whether he expects this to be his final season, period — although he did indicate that he takes a wait-and-see approach. I’m not going to do anything different than what I have done my whole career, Martinez said. I have always taken it day by day, year by year. Whenever his […]

He won three Super Bowl rings with New England and one with Indianapolis. The last couple of years of not making the playoffs and stuff was a real frustration, Vinatieri said. I wanted to play on a team that I felt we could get back to the playoffs. Everybody’s first and foremost goal should be […]

In an official White House statement, the president saluted America’s armed forces, but reminded everyone, “We hold them in our hearts and thank them for our freedom as we proudly stand for the National Anthem. “As many Americans come together to watch the Super Bowl, Melania and I extend our greetings and appreciation for those […]

25. Kathryn Smith, assistant coach, Bills (NR): A former Jets front-office staffer, Smith became the first woman hired as a full-time assistant coach in NFL history when Rex Ryan named her Buffalo’s special teams quality control coach. It’s a groundbreaking move we can only hope won’t be a one-time event. Cook, who isn’t even 22 […]

Bortles showed significant improvement in his fourth NFL season and looks to have even more upside heading into the future. But before committing to move ahead for at least one more year at a lofty $19.1-million salary, the Jaguars have to evaluate just how much better Bortles can become and whether there is a more […]

They have yet to win this season (0-12) and dating to 2015 own a woeful 4-40 record. It’s been so bad that Chris Gibilisco of Fox 8 Cleveland started a petition to honor the Browns’ record as the worst stretch in NFL history “either with a plaque or special exhibit at the Pro Football Hall […]

Yeah, the Patriots got incredibly lucky (again), but it shouldn’t obscure a brilliant performance by Rob Gronkowski, who actually looked like a man who benefitted from the one-week respite provided by his suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct in Week 13. In practice, however, the example of NCAA football’s Bowl Championship Series suggests to me that as […]

The playoff hopes of the Atlanta Falcons might rest on the outcome of this week’s game against New Orleans, but the second-worst run defense is going to have trouble containing the Saints two-headed monster of Mark Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara in the backfield. Kamara is the No. 1-rated running back per the game charters […]